The immediate future of the Los Angeles Lakers franchise remains uncertain with the worst season in the team’s history coming to an end on Wednesday. Although the Lakers are coming off a 61-loss season, the team could be armed with as much as three draft picks this summer to go along with the cap space to make some major moves in NBA free agency.
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At his recent exit interview, general manager Mitch Kupchak wrapped up the team’s exit interviews talking about the team’s prospects for righting the ship during the off-season. Kupchak said the following, according to Shahan Ahmed of NBC Los Angeles:
Kupchak: "It can get better quick. Every year, we have the same goal, which is 'win a championship.'"
— Shahan Ahmed (@shahanLA) April 16, 2015
The NBA draft lottery will get underway on May 19. The Lakers were on shaky ground over the last few months of the season with the uncertainty of whether they’d be able to hold onto their lottery pick, but after finishing with the league’s fourth-worst record, their chances have drastically improved.
With a lottery pick and potentially two other draft picks, the Lakers can get some promising young talent to add to the roster along with Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle and Tarik Black.
The consensus seems to be that the Lakers will be able to land a talented player if able to keep their pick in the top five. Plenty of players have been mentioned as potential targets like Jahlil Okafor (Duke), Karl-Anthony Towns (Kentucky), D’Angelo Russell (Ohio State), Emmanuel Mudiay (China) and Justise Winslow (Duke).
As for free agency, Rajon Rondo has consistently been mentioned as a top target for the Lakers. A few other notable players set to hit the free agent market have also been mentioned as potential options with Kevin Love, Goran Dragic, LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Monroe and DeAndre Jordan leading the way.
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